Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is method for the prevention, delay of progression or treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject, comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-PD-1 antibody, which is an antibody or a fragment antigen binding thereof, specifically binding to human PD-1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/092827, filed Jun. 26, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/524,967 and International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2017/090397, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by references in their entireties for all purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TEXT FILE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY HEREWITH

The contents of the text file submitted electronically herewith are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: A computer readable format copy of the Sequence Listing (filename: BEIG_026_01US_SeqList.txt, date recorded: Dec. 11, 2019, file size 118 kilobytes).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a method for immunotherapy of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprising administering to the patient an anti-PD-1 antibody which was specifically engineered to minimize FcγR binding on macrophages to abrogate antibody-dependent phagocytosis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common cancers in the world and the third highest cause of cancer-related mortality globally due to its malignancy. HCC develops in patients with chronic hepatitis, either due to chronic hepatitis B or C viral infection or due to inflammation following aflatoxin ingestion, or excessive alcohol consumption.

Most HCC patients are first diagnosed with the disease at an advanced stage or present with poor liver function, thereby preventing the use of potentially curative therapies. Treatment options for patients with advanced stage disease are limited to either chemoembolization or systemic therapies, which include sorafenib, which is the only approved first-line treatment, with modest efficacy and considerable toxicity [Samonakis D N, Kouroumalis E A. Systemic treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma: Still unmet expectations. World J Hepatol. 2017; 9(2):80-90]. Though these approaches have led to improved clinical outcomes, survival among HCC patients remains less than one year for patients with advanced stage disease, and the patients remain at high risk of disease recurrence after potentially curative surgery and ablation. As toxic chemotherapies are often not well-tolerated by these patients due to liver dysfunction, novel immunotherapies hold promise for advanced HCC. Monoclonal antibodies against the immune checkpoint inhibitory receptor, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), have demonstrated antitumor activity across multiple malignancies [Topalian S L, Hodi F S, Brahmer J R, et al. Safety, activity, and immune correlates of anti-PD-1 antibody in cancer. N Engl J Med 2012; 366(26):2443-2454], including HCC [El-Khoueiry A B, Sangro B, Yau T, et al. Nivolumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (CheckMate 040): an open-label, non-comparative, phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion trial. Lancet. 2017; 389(10088): 2492-2502]. However, the response rate in the HBV-infected group is relatively low (7%) as reported for Nivolumab [M. Kudo, Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2017 Update, Liver Cancer 2017; 6:1-12]. So far, HBV-infected HCC is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, there is a need for a new immunotherapy for advanced HCC, in particular, with high response rate to infected HCC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a method for immunotherapy of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-PD-1 antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof. In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof was specifically engineered to minimize FcγR binding on macrophages to abrogate antibody-dependent phagocytosis.

In one embodiment, the HCC is advanced HCC and/or a metastatic HCC. In other embodiments, the advanced HCC is HBV-infected HCC, or HCV-infected HCC, or HBV/HCV co-infected HCC. Preferably, the advanced HCC is advanced HBV-infected HCC, metastatic HBV-infected HCC, HCV-infected HCC, or metastatic HCV-infected HCC.

In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is the one disclosed in WO2015/035606A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 8,735,553, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The antibodies disclosed in WO2015/035606A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,735,553 specifically bind to Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) and inhibit PD-1-mediated cellular signaling and activities in immune cells. In some embodiments, the antibodies bind to a set of amino acid residues required for its ligand (Programmed death-ligand 1, PD-L1) binding. Especially, the anti-PD-1 antibody is a humanized monoclonal antibody comprising a heavy chain variable region (Vh) and a light chain variable region (Vk) (comprising SEQ ID No 24 and SEQ ID No 26, respectively) and a IgG4 heavy chain effector or constant domain (comprising SEQ ID NO: 88), hereinafter Mab-1, which specifically binds to PD-1. In some embodiments, the antibody binds to PD-1 residues including K45 and 193; or, 193, L95 and P97, and inhibits PD-1-medidated cellular signaling and activities in immune cells, the antibodies binding to a set of amino acid residues required for its ligand binding.

The method for immunotherapy disclosed herein has been proved to prevent, delay progression, alleviate, and therefore treat HCC, or even advanced HCC, in particular infected advanced HCC, and the toxicity profile of the anti-PD-1 antibodies disclosed herein demonstrate that adverse events (AEs) are generally low severity, manageable and reversible. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides PD-1 antibodies with a superior effect in HCC relative to other PD-1 antibodies.

The inventors of the present application have found that treatment with Mab-1 was generally well tolerated in pretreated patients with advanced HCC. The preliminary safety profile and antitumor activity support continued development of Mab-1 in patients with advanced HCC, especially in patient with infectious HCC, including HBV-infected HCC, HCV-infected HCC and HBV/HCV-coinfected HCC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the potential mechanism of T-cell clearance of the anti-PD-1 antibody used in the present application, i.e., lacking or reduced FcγR binding prevents macrophage-mediated T-cell clearance.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the study design of the phase 1a/1b study.

FIG. 3 shows best change in tumor size by hepatitis virus infection status in the phase 1a/1b study.

FIG. 4 shows duration of treatment and response in the phase 1a/1b study.

FIG. 5 shows baseline and most recent CT assessment in the three patients with partial response in the phase 1a/1b study.

FIG. 6 shows change in tumor burden over time in the phase 1a/1b study.

FIG. 7 shows change in Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) from baseline in the phase 1a/1b study.

FIG. 8 shows the study design of the phase 3 study.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Abbreviations

Throughout the detailed description and examples disclosed herein, the following abbreviations provided in Table 1 will be used:

TABLE 1 Abbreviations AE Adverse event BID Twice daily CDR Complementarity determining region DPBS Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline IgG immunoglobulin G i.p. Intraperitoneal or Intraperitoneally i.v. intravenous or intravenously IFN-γ Interferon-γ mAb Monoclonal antibodies MTD Maximum tolerated dose NK Natural killer PD-1 Programmed Death 1 protein, Pdcd-1, or CD279 PDX Patient-derived xenograft p.o. “by mouth” or “per os” QW Once weekly Q2W Once every two weeks Q3W Once every three weeks Q4W Once every four weeks TILs Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes Vh Heavy chain variable region Vk Light chain variable region Definitions

Unless specifically defined elsewhere in this document, all other technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

As used herein, including the appended claims, the singular forms of words such as “a”, “an”, and “the”, include their corresponding plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term “antibody” herein is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers antibodies (including full length monoclonal antibodies) and antibody fragments so long as they recognize PD-1. An antibody molecule is usually monospecific, but may also be described as idiospecific, heterospecific, or polyspecific. Antibody molecules bind by means of specific binding sites to specific antigenic determinants or epitopes on antigens. “Antibody fragments” or “antigen binding fragments” comprise a portion of a full length antibody, generally the antigen binding or variable region thereof. Examples of antibody fragments include Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules; and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

The term “monoclonal antibody” or “mAb” or “Mab” herein means a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the antibody molecules comprised in the population are identical in amino acid sequence except for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. In contrast, conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations typically include a multitude of different antibodies having different amino acid sequences in their variable domains, particularly their CDRs, which are often specific for different epitopes. The modifier “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) may be obtained by methods known to those skilled in the art. See, for example Kohler et al (1975); U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110; Ausubel et al (1987-1999); Harlow et al (1988); and Colligan et al (1993). The mAbs disclosed herein may be of any immunoglobulin class including IgG, IgM, IgD, IgE, IgA, and any subclass thereof. A hybridoma producing a mAb may be cultivated in vitro or in vivo. High titers of mAbs can be obtained in in vivo production where cells from the individual hybridomas are injected intraperitoneally into mice, such as pristine-primed Balb/c mice to produce ascites fluid containing high concentrations of the desired mAbs. MAbs of isotype IgM or IgG may be purified from such ascites fluids, or from culture supernatants, using column chromatography methods well known to those of skill in the art.

In general, the basic antibody structural unit comprises a tetramer. Each tetramer includes two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light chain” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy chain” (about 50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of the heavy chain may define a constant region primarily responsible for effector function. Typically, human light chains are classified as kappa and lambda light chains. Furthermore, human heavy chains are typically classified as α, δ, ϵ, γ, or μ, and define the antibody's isotypes as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, respectively. Within light and heavy chains, the variable and constant regions are joined by a “J” region of about 12 or more amino acids, with the heavy chain also including a “D” region of about 10 more amino acids.

The variable regions of each light/heavy chain (Vk/Vh) pair form the antibody binding site. Thus, in general, an intact antibody has two binding sites. Except in bifunctional or bispecific antibodies, the two binding sites are, in general, the same.

Typically, the variable domains of both the heavy and light chains comprise three hypervariable regions, also called “complementarity determining regions (CDRs)”, which are located within relatively conserved framework regions (FR). The CDRs are usually aligned by the framework regions, enabling binding to a specific epitope. In general, from N-terminal to C-terminal, both light and heavy chains variable domains comprise FR-1, CDR-1, FR-2, CDR-2, FR-3, CDR-3, and FR-4. The assignment of amino acids to each domain is, generally, in accordance with the definitions of Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Kabat, et al. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. 5th ed., NIH Publ. No. 91-3242 (1991); Kabat (1978) Adv. Prot. Chem. 32: 1-75; Kabat, et al., (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252: 6609-6616; Chothia, et al, (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 or Chothia, et al, (1989) Nature 342:878-883.

The term “hypervariable region” means the amino acid residues of an antibody that are responsible for antigen-binding. The hypervariable region comprises amino acid residues from a “complementarity determining region” or “CDR” (i.e., CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 in the light chain variable domain and CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 in the heavy chain variable domain). See, Kabat et al. (1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (defining the CDR regions of an antibody by sequence); see also Chothia and Lesk (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196: 901-917 (defining the CDR regions of an antibody by structure). The term “framework” or “FR” residues means those variable domain residues other than the hypervariable region residues defined herein as CDR residues.

Unless otherwise indicated, “antibody fragment” or “antigen binding fragment” means antigen binding fragments of antibodies, i.e. antibody fragments that retain the ability to bind specifically to the antigen bound by the full-length antibody, e.g. fragments that retain one or more CDR regions. Examples of antibody binding fragments include, but not limited to, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules, e.g., sc-Fv; nanobodies and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

An antibody that “specifically binds to” a specified target protein is an antibody that exhibits preferential binding to that target as compared to other proteins, but this specificity does not require absolute binding specificity. An antibody is considered “specific” for its intended target if its binding is determinative of the presence of the target protein in a sample, e.g. without producing undesired results such as false positives. Antibodies, or binding fragments thereof, useful in the present invention will bind to the target protein with an affinity that is at least two fold greater, preferably at least ten times greater, more preferably at least 20-times greater, and most preferably at least 100-times greater than the affinity with non-target proteins. An antibody herein is said to bind specifically to a polypeptide comprising a given amino acid sequence, e.g. the amino acid sequence of a mature human PD-1 molecule, if it binds to polypeptides comprising that sequence but does not bind to proteins lacking that sequence.

The term “human antibody” herein means an antibody that comprises human immunoglobulin protein sequences only. A human antibody may contain murine carbohydrate chains if produced in a mouse, in a mouse cell, or in a hybridoma derived from a mouse cell. Similarly, “mouse antibody” or “rat antibody” mean an antibody that comprises only mouse or rat immunoglobulin sequences, respectively.

The term “humanized antibody” means forms of antibodies that contain sequences from non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies as well as human antibodies. Such antibodies contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence. The humanized antibody optionally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. The prefix “hum”, “hu” or “h” is added to antibody clone designations when necessary to distinguish humanized antibodies from parental rodent antibodies. The humanized forms of rodent antibodies will generally comprise the same CDR sequences of the parental rodent antibodies, although certain amino acid substitutions may be included to increase affinity, increase stability of the humanized antibody, or for other reasons.

The term “hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)” has its general meaning in the art and refers to the cancer developed in hepatocytes. In general, liver cancer indicates hepatocellular carcinoma. HCC may result from excessive alcohol consumption (alcoholic steatohepatitis) or from inflammation following aflatoxin ingestion (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, sometimes referred to as NASH). HCC may be caused by infection, such as hepatitis B virus (sometimes referred to as HBV-infected HCC) or hepatitis C virus (sometimes referred to as HCV-infected HCC) or by infection of HBV and HCV together (sometimes referred to as HBV/HCV co-infected HCC). In some embodiments, HCC is developed from chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, aflatoxin, alcoholism, cirrhosis of the liver, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hemochromatosis, alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency Wilson's disease, Type 2 diabetes, hemophilia, etc. In some embodiments, the HCC is early stage HCC, non-metastatic HCC, primary HCC, advanced HCC, locally advanced HCC, metastatic HCC, HCC in remission, or recurrent HCC.

The term “treatment” or “treatin₂” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired clinical results, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following: alleviating one or more symptoms resulting from the disease, diminishing the extent of the disease, stabilizing the disease (e.g., preventing or delaying the worsening of the disease), preventing or delaying the spread (e.g., metastasis) of the disease, preventing or delaying the recurrence of the disease, delay or slowing the progression of the disease, ameliorating the disease state, providing a remission (partial or total) of the disease, decreasing the dose of one or more other medications required to treat the disease, delaying the progression of the disease, increasing the quality of life, and/or prolonging survival. Therefore, a reduction of pathological consequence of HCC is also included by the term “treatment”. The methods disclosed herein encompass any one or more of these aspects of treatment.

The term “patient” is used interchangeably herein with the term “subject” and the like. In certain embodiments, the patient is a human patient. In particular embodiments, the patient is a human patient who has been diagnosed with, is in need of treatment for, and/or is at risk of HCC.

The term “CDRs” means complementarity determining region(s) in an immunoglobulin variable region, defined using the Kabat numbering system, unless otherwise indicated.

Anti-PD-1 Antibody

As disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody or a fragment antigen binding thereof, which specifically binds to human PD-1.

As disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain variable region (Vh) and a light chain variable region (Vk) that contain complement determinant regions (CDRs) provided in Table 2:

TABLE 2 CDRs of exemplary antibodies provided herein a) mu317 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 11, 12, 13, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 14, 15, 16, respectively); b) mu326 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18, 19, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21, 22, respectively); c) 317-4B6 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, 33, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 34, 35, 36, respectively); d) 326-4A3 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 37, 38, 39, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 40, 41, 42, respectively); e) 317-1H CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 11, 59, 13, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 14, 15, 16, respectively); f) 317-4B2 CDR-HL CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 11, 60, 13, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 61, 15, 16, respectively); g) 317-4B5 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 11, 60, 13, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 61, 15, 16, respectively); h) 317-4B6 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 11, 32, 13, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 61, 15, 16, respectively); i) 326-1 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 17, 62, 19, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21, 22, respectively); j) 326-3B1 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 17, 62, 19, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-L2 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21, 22, respectively); or k) 326-3G1 CDR-H1, CDR-H2 and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NOs: 17, 62, 19, respectively); and CDR-L1, CDR-12 and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21, 22, respectively).

As disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody, in some embodiments, is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain variable region (Vh) and a light chain variable region (Vk) that contain any combinations of CDRs provided in Table 3:

TABLE 3 CDRs of exemplary antibodies provided herein (a) CDR-H1 (SEQ ID NO 31), CDR-H2 (SEQ ID NO 12, 32, 59 or 60) and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NO 33), CDR-L1 ( SEQ ID NO 14, 34 or 61), CDR-L2 (SEQ ID NO 35) and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NO 36); or (b) CDR-H1 (SEQ ID NO 37), CDR-H2 (SEQ ID NO 18, 38 or 62) and CDR-H3 (SEQ ID NO 39), CDR-L1 (SEQ ID NO 40), CDR-L2 (SEQ ID NO 41) and CDR-L3 (SEQ ID NO 42).

As disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain variable region (Vh) and a light chain variable region (Vk) comprising sequences selected from those provided in Table 4:

TABLE 4 Vh and Vk sequences of exemplary antibodies provided herein a) mu317 (SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 6, respectively); b) mu326 (SEQ ID NOs: 8 and 10, respectively); c) 317-4B6 (SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 26, respectively); d) 326-4A3 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 30, respectively); e) 317-4B2 (SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, respectively); f) 317-4B5 (SEQ ID NOs: 45 and 46, respectively); g) 317-1 (SEQ ID NOs: 48 and 50, respectively); h) 326-3B1 (SEQ ID NOs: 51 and 52, respectively); i) 326-3GI (SEQ ID NOs: 53 and 54, respectively); j) 326-1 (SEQ ID NOs: 56 and 58, respectively); k) 317-3A1 (SEQ ID NOs: 64 and 26, respectively); l) 317-3C1 (SEQ ID NOs: 65 and 26, respectively); m) 317-3E1 (SEQ ID NOs: 66 and 26, respectively); n) 317-3F1 (SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 26, respectively); o) 317-3G1 (SEQ ID NOs: 68 and 26, respectively); p) 317-3H1 (SEQ ID NOs: 69 and 26, respectively); q) 317-311 (SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 26, respectively); r) 317-4B 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 71 and 26, respectively); s) 317-4B3 (SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 26, respectively); t) 317-4B4 (SEQ ID NOs: 73 and 26, respectively); u) 317-4A2 (SEQ ID NOs: 74 and 26, respectively); v) 326-3 A 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 75 and 30, respectively); w) 326-3C1 (SEQ ID NOs: 76 and 30, respectively); x) 326-3D1 (SEQ ID NOs: 77 and 30, respectively); y) 326-3E1 (SEQ ID NOs: 78 and 30, respectively); z) 326-3F1 (SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 30, respectively); aa) 326-3B N55D (SEQ ID NOs: 80 and 30, respectively); ab) 326-4A1 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 81, respectively); or ac) 326-4A2 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 82, respectively).

In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody provided herein comprises a heavy chain effector or constant domain that includes amino acid mutations that reduce binding to FcγR. The antibody may further comprise one or more mutations in the effector or constant domain that provide enhanced stability. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 Fc region. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 Fc region comprising one or more amino acid mutations that reduce binding to FcγR. For example, in some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 Fc region comprising mutations that reduce or eliminate binding to FcγRI, FcγRIIA, FcγRIIB, FcγRIIIA, and/or FcγRIIIB.

In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 Fc region having a serine to proline mutation at position 228 (EU numbering system). In some embodiments, this mutation is referred to as the S228P mutation. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 Fc region having a mutation at one or more of positions 233, 234, 235, 265, 309, and 409 (EU numbering system). For example, in some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having a mutation at 228 and at least one other position, wherein the at least one other mutation results in reduced binding to one or more FcγR. In further embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having a mutation at position 228 and at least two, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6 additional positions, wherein one or more of the additional mutations results in reduced binding to one or more FcγR. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 234 and 235. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 233, 235, and 235. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 234, 235, and 265. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 233, 234, 235, and 265. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 234, 235, 265, and 409. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 233, 234, 235, 265, and 409. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 234, 235, 265, 309, and 409. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an IgG4 region having mutations at positions 233, 234, 235, 265, 309, and 409. The mutation at position 234 may be a phenylalanine to valine substitution or a phenylalanine to alanine substitution. The mutation at position 235 may be a leucine to alanine substitution. The mutation at position 233 may be a glutamic acid to proline substitution. The mutation at position 265 may be a aspartic acid to valine substitution or an aspartic acid to threonine substitution. The mutation at position 309 may be a leucine to valine substitution. The mutation at position 409 may be an arginine to a lysine, threonine, or methionine substitution. Exemplary IgG4 Fc regions are provided in Table 5 below.

TABLE 5 Exemplary IgG4 Fc region sequences IgG4 variant SEQ mutated positions Amino acid sequence ID NO WT IgG4 ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 107 TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCPSCPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  83 TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  91 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAP

EFGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  92 234V TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPE

FGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  93 235A TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPEF

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  94 234V TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 235A GPPCP

CPAPE

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  95 234A TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPE

FGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  96 234A TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 235A GPPCP

CPAPE

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  84 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234V GPPCPPCPAPPVAGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  97 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234A GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  98 234V TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 235A GPPCP

CPAPE

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 265A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  99 234A TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 235A GPPCP

CPAPE

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 265A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  85 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234V GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS 265A NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 100 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234A GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS 265A NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 101 265A TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 102 309V TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTV

HQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 103 409K TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY GPPCP

CPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYS

LTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 104 309V TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 409K GPPCP

CPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSQEDPEV QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTV

HQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYS

LTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 105 265A TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 309V GPPCP

CPAPEFLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 409K QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTV

HQDWLNGKEYKCKVS NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYS

LTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  86 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234V GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS 265T NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSRLTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  87 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234V GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS 265A NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS 409K DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYS

LTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH  88 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234V GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTVVHQDWLNGKEYKCKVS 265A NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS 309V DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYS

LTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS 409K VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK 228P ASTKGPSVFPLAPCSRSTSESTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVH 106 233P TFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTKTYTCNVDHKPSNTKVDKRVESKY 234A GPPCP

CPAP

GGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVV

VSQEDPEV 235A QFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQFNSTYRVVSVLTV

HQDWLNGKEYKCKVS 265A NKGLPSSIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSQEEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPS 309V DIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYS

LTVDKSRWQEGNVFSCS 409K VMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSLGK

As disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a IgG4 heavy chain effector or constant domain comprising any of SEQ ID NOs: 83-88.

As disclosed in each of the above aspects, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which contains a F(ab) or F(ab)2 comprising a domain said above, including a heavy chain variable region (Vh), a light chain variable region (Vk) and a IgG4 heavy chain effector or constant domain.

As disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain variable region (Vh) and a light chain variable region (Vk), and a IgG4 heavy chain effector or constant domain comprising a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 83-88 and 91-106, wherein the heavy chain variable region (Vh) and the light chain variable region (Vk) comprise sequences selected from those provided in Table 6:

TABLE 6 Exemplary Vh and Vk sequences a) mu317 (SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 6, respectively); b) mu326 (SEQ ID NOs: 8 and 10, respectively); c) 317-4B6 (SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 26, respectively); d) 326-4A3 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 30, respectively); e) 317-4B2 (SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44, respectively); f) 317-4B5 (SEQ ID NOs: 45 and 46, respectively); g) 317-1 (SEQ ID NOs: 48 and 50, respectively); h) 326-3B1 (SEQ ID NOs: 51 and 52, respectively); i) 326-3GI (SEQ ID NOs: 53 and 54, respectively); j) 326-1 (SEQ ID NOs: 56 and 58, respectively); k) 317-3A1 (SEQ ID NOs: 64 and 26, respectively); 1) 317-3C1 (SEQ ID NOs: 65 and 26, respectively); m) 317-3E1 (SEQ ID NOs: 66 and 26, respectively); n) 317-3F1 (SEQ ID NOs: 67 and 26, respectively); o) 317-3G1 (SEQ ID NOs: 68 and 26, respectively); p) 317-3H1 (SEQ ID NOs: 69 and 26, respectively); q) 317-311 (SEQ ID NOs: 70 and 26, respectively); r) 317-4B 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 71 and 26, respectively); s) 317-4B3 (SEQ ID NOs: 72 and 26, respectively); t) 317-4B4 (SEQ ID NOs: 73 and 26, respectively); u) 317-4A2 (SEQ ID NOs: 74 and 26, respectively); v) 326-3 A 1 (SEQ ID NOs: 75 and 30, respectively); w) 326-3C1 (SEQ ID NOs: 76 and 30, respectively); x) 326-3D1 (SEQ ID NOs: 77 and 30, respectively); y) 326-3E1 (SEQ ID NOs: 78 and 30, respectively); z) 326-3F1 (SEQ ID NOs: 79 and 30, respectively); aa) 326-3B N55D (SEQ ID NOs: 80 and 30, respectively); ab) 326-4A1 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 81, respectively); or ac) 326-4A2 (SEQ ID NOs: 28 and 82, respectively).

As disclosed herein, in some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain CDR-H1, CDR-H2, and CDR-H3 according to SEQ ID NOs: 11, 32, and 13, respectively; a light chain CDR-L1, CDR-L2, and CDR-L3 according to SEQ ID NOs: 61, 15, and 16, respectively; and an IgG4 heavy chain effector or constant domain comprising SEQ ID NO: 88.

As disclosed herein, in some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain variable region (Vh) and a light chain variable region (Vk), and an IgG4 heavy chain effector or constant domain comprising SEQ ID NO: 88, wherein the heavy chain variable region (Vh) and the light chain variable region (Vk) comprises SEQ ID NO: 24 and SEQ ID NO: 26, respectively.

As disclosed herein, in some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is a uniquely engineered humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody with high affinity and binding specificity against PD-1, specifically engineered to minimize FcγR binding on macrophages to abrogate antibody-dependent phagocytosis, a potential mechanism of T-cell clearance.

The anti-PD1 antibodies and antibody fragments thereof disclosed herein may be prepared in accordance with the disclosure of WO2015/035606A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 8,735,553, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Methods of treatment

In the methods of treatment disclosed herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody at a certain dose was administered to the patients with HCC intravenously. In some embodiments, the patient with HCC was not previously treated with a PD-1 or PD-L1 targeting therapy. In some embodiments, the patient with HCC was previously treated with another therapeutic agent (e.g., sorafenib).

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treating HCC in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an anti-PD-1 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody is engineered to reduce, minimize, or eliminate FcγR binding on macrophages or other antigen presenting cells. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises an engineered IgG4 region provided herein. For example, in some embodiments, the antibody comprises an engineered IgG4 region having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 83-88 and 91-106. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 sequences according to SEQ ID NOs: 11, 32, and 13, respectively; light chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 sequences according to SEQ ID NOs: 61, 15, and 16, respectively; and an IgG4 region that has been engineered to have reduced FcγR. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises heavy chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 sequences according to SEQ ID NOs: 11, 32, and 13, respectively; light chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 sequences according to SEQ ID NOs: 61, 15, and 16, respectively; and an IgG4 region having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 83-88 and 91-106. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises heavy and light chain variable region sequences according to SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 26, respectively, and an IgG4 region that has been engineered to have reduced FcγR. In some embodiments, the antibody comprises heavy and light chain variable region sequences according to SEQ ID NOs: 24 and 26, respectively, and comprises an IgG4 region having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 83-88 and 91-106. In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is Mab-1.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an antibody provided herein for use in the treatment of HCC in a patient. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an antibody provided herein for use in immunotherapy in a HCC patient. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an antibody provided herein for use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of HCC. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an antibody provided herein for use in the manufacture of a medicament for immunotherapy in a HCC patient.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treating HCC in a patient comprising administering an antibody provided herein, wherein the administration of the antibody provides improvement in: overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), complete response rate (CR), partial response rate (PR), stable disease (SD), progression free survival (PFS), disease free survival (DFS), event-free survival (EFS), duration of response (DoR), time to progression (TTP), disease control rate (DCR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), or any combination thereof, relative to a patient that did not receive the antibody. In particular embodiments, the administration of the antibody provides improvement in OS.

In some embodiments, OS is defined as the time from clinical trial randomization until death from any cause. In some embodiments, ORR is defined as the percentage of patients with a tumor size reduction of a predefined amount and for a minimum period of time. In some embodiments, CR is defined as the disappearance of all signs of cancer in response to treatment. In some embodiments, PR is defined as at least 30% reduction in detectable disease (e.g., size of tumors). In some embodiments, SD is defined as neither sufficient reduction in disease to qualify as PR nor sufficient increase in disease to qualify as progressive disease (e.g., less than 25% increase to a 30% reduction in detectable disease (e.g., size of tumors)). In some embodiments, the TTP is defined as the time from randomization until tumor progression. In some embodiments, PFS is defined as the time from randomization until tumor progression or until death occurs. In some embodiments, DFS is defined as the time from randomization until recurrence of tumor or death from any cause. In some embodiments, EFS is defined as the time from randomization to disease progression, death, or discontinuation of treatment for any reason. In some embodiments, the DoR is defined as the period of time from documentation of tumor response to disease progression. In some embodiments, both DCR and CBR are defined as the percentage of patients who have achieved a complete response, partial response, or stable disease.

In some embodiments, RECIST v. 1.1 (Response Evaluation Criterial in Solid Tumors), a set of published rules that define disease response, progression, or stability in cancer patients during or following treatment, is used to evaluate patients treated with an antibody provided herein.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treating a patient with HCC comprising administering an antibody provided herein to the patient, wherein the method achieves ORR and/or CR and/or PR and/or DCR and/or CBR (or any other known rate-based measure of outcome for tumor patients) of at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35%, at least about 40%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 55%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, or more.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treating HCC in a patient comprising administering an antibody provided herein, wherein the administration of the antibody provides a statistically significant therapeutic effect relative to a placebo treatment, or relative to another anti-tumor or anti-cancer therapy. In some embodiments, the statistically significant effect includes therapeutic efficacy in combination with a statistically significant effect on toxicity or tolerability parameters. In some embodiments, the statistically significant effect further comprises improved OS, ORR, CR, PR, SD, PFS, DFS, EFS, DoR, TTP, DCR, CBR, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the methods provided herein provide a statistically significant effect compared to sorafenib. In some embodiments, the method provided herein comprise administration of about 200 mg IV Q3W of an antibody provided herein (e.g., Mab-1), wherein the method provides a statistically significant effect compared to administration of about 400 mg sorafenib orally BID. In some embodiments, the method provided herein provides a statistically significant effect compared to another PD-1 or PD-L1 targeting therapy. The term “statistically significant therapeutic effect” and the like refers to an outcome of a treatment that results in a clinical or medical improvement in a subject. By “statistically significant” it is meant that the result was unlikely to have occurred by chance. Statistical significance can be determined by any method known in the art. Commonly used measures of significance include the p-value, which is the frequency or probability with which the observed event would occur, if the null hypothesis were true. If the obtained p-value is smaller than the significance level, then the null hypothesis is rejected. In simple cases, the significance level is defined at a p-value of 0.05 or less.

In some embodiments, the anti-PD-1 antibody is administered at a dose of 0.5-10 mg/kg QW, or Q2W, or Q3W, or Q4W. In some embodiments herein, the anti-PD-1 antibody is Mab-1, and the Mab-1 is administrated at a dose of 0.5-10 mg/kg QW or Q2W or Q3W. Preferably, Mab-1 is administrated at a dose of 0.5-5 mg/kg Q2W, 5-10 mg/kg Q2W, or 2-5 mg/kg Q3W. Most preferably, Mab-1 is administrated parenterally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg Q2W, 5 mg/kg Q2W, 10 mg/kg Q2W, 2 mg/kg Q3W or 5 mg/kg Q3W.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treating HCC comprising administering an anti-PD-1 antibody provided herein at a dose of about 50 mg, about 75 mg, about 100 mg, about 125 mg, about 150 mg, about 175 mg, about 200 mg, about 225 mg, about 250 mg, about 300 mg, about 325 mg, about 350 mg, about 375 mg, about 400 mg, about 425 mg, about 450 mg, about 475 mg, or about 500 mg. In some embodiments, the antibody is administered daily, every other day, every 3 days, every 4 days, every 5 days, every 6 days, or every seven days. In some embodiments, the antibody is administered weekly, every 10 days, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, every 4 weeks, every 5 weeks, every 6 weeks, every 7 weeks, or every 8 weeks. In some embodiments, the antibody is administered monthly or every other month. In some embodiments, the antibody is administered one or more times to a subject, and/or at increasing or decreasing doses of the antibody, depending on the clinical stage of the patient, the therapeutic effect achieved, and other patient characteristics. In particular embodiments, the antibody is administered to a subject QW, Q2W, Q3W, or Q4W.

In some embodiments, the route of administration of the pharmaceutical composition is according to known methods, e.g. through injection by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intracerebral (intra-parenchymal), intracerebroventricular, intramuscular, subcutaneously, intra-ocular, intraarterial, intraportal, or intralesional routes; by sustained release systems or by implantation devices. In certain embodiments, the compositions can be administered by bolus injection or continuously by infusion, or by implantation device.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods for treating HCC comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an anti-PD-1 antibody provided herein at a dose of about 200 mg intravenously (IV), every 3 weeks (Q3W).

EXAMPLES Example 1 A Phase 1A/1B Study of Mab-1 in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Study Design-patient differentiation and enrollment

The purpose of the study design is to enroll HCC patients by selecting tumors for recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) determination and preliminary differentiation, consisting of phase 1A and phase 1B. The study design is detailed in FIG. 2 .

In phase 1A, Mab-1 (unless indicated otherwise, the antibody used in the clinical trials is Mab-1) of 10 mg/kg Q2W was the maximum administered dose; maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached. All patients in phase 1B received Mab-1 as a 5 mg/kg IV infusion Q3W. Radiographic assessment was every 9 weeks. Results presented here include patients with advanced HCC treated with 5 mg/kg Q3W. Finally, 40 patients with HCC (n=40) were enrolled in the clinical trials.

Key Eligibility of the Pooled HCC Population Subset

Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced/metastatic HCC who had not received prior PD-1 or PD-L1 treatment were enrolled.

Specific inclusion criteria included Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C or stage B refractory/not amenable to loco-regional therapy, and not amenable to a curative treatment approach, and Child-Pugh A without encephalopathy of any grade.

Eligible patients must have a hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load <200 IU/mL (˜1000 cps/mL) and subjects with active HBV infection need to be on anti-HBV suppression for ≥3 months throughout treatment and for 6 months after.

Patients with active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who are untreated are not allowed on study.

Patient Disposition

40 patients with advanced HCC, the majority of whom were HBV positive (n=28/40), had enrolled in this study (Table 7). A total of 24 patients remain on treatment at the time of the present analysis.

TABLE 7 Patient demographics and disease characteristics HCC Population (N = 40) Median age, years (min, max) 55.5 (28, 76) Sex Male/female 32/8 Race Asian/White/other 35/3/2 Median treatment duration, days 64 (1, 471) (min, max) Median number of prior anti-cancer 2 (0, 6) treatment regimens (min, max) Prior anti-cancer therapy 0  2† regimens, n* 1 16 2 12 ≥3 10 Infection status, n HBV 28 HCV  2 HBV/HCV co-infection  6 No infection  4 *Only 1 patient was sorafenib naïve; †Both patients had received sorafenib as adjuvant therapy. Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus.

Preliminary Antitumor Activity

Among the enrolled 40 advanced HCC patients, a total of 27 patients were evaluable, wherein 25 had measurable disease and at least 1 evaluable post-baseline tumor assessment; 2 died prior to the 1st scheduled date of tumor assessment.

In the clinical trials and results hereinafter, all patients received Mab-1 as a 5 mg/kg IV infusion Q3W with radiographic assessment every 9 weeks. Across the 27 evaluable† HCC patients: 3 patients achieved at least partial response (PR) and 9 patients achieved stable disease (SD). The initial disease control rate (DCR) including partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) is 44% as shown in FIG. 3 showing best change in tumor size by hepatitis virus infection status.

The duration of treatment with Mab-1 and response of the patients were shown in FIG. 4 . It shows that the maximum duration was 28 weeks.

As mentioned above, three patients were found to achieve at least partial response, which was confirmed by the baseline and most recent CT assessment in the three patients with partial response in FIG. 5 .

FIG. 6 also shows that change in tumor burden over time in patients with HBV-infected HCC is promising.

FIG. 7 shows the best overall response by radiographic evidence in the HCC patients in which one patient shown to have a controlled, stable disease for over 60 weeks.

Tolerability Profile

Adverse events (AEs) associated with administration of Mab-1 disclosed herein was also studied.

Treatment-related AEs occurred in 21 of the 40 patients with HCC (Table 8). All but one of these events were grade ≤2. The most common events were rash (n=8) and pruritus (n=5).

TABLE 8 Treatment-related adverse events HCC Population (N = 40) All grades Grade ≥3 Any treatment-related AE 21 1 Rash 8 0 Pruritus 5 0 AST increased 3 0 Fatigue 2 0 Hypothyroidism 2 0 Decreased appetite 2 0 Acute hepatitis* 1 1 ALT increased 1 0 Blood creatine increased 1 0 Blood creatinine increased 1 0 QT prolongation 1 0 Skin reaction 1 0 Chills 1 0 Feeling hot 1 0 Nausea 1 0 Vomiting 1 0 Arthralgia 1 0 Proteinuria 1 0 Cough 1 0 Hypertension 1 0 Data presented as n. Bold font indicates events that are possibly immune related. *Acute hepatitis was fatal (grade 5).

Two patients discontinued treatment due to any treatment-emergent AE, one of which was a grade 5 AE considered related to treatment by the investigator. A 49-year-old Asian male with HBV and HCC widely metastatic to brain, liver and lung, developed evidence of progression (disturbed consciousness, abdominal pain, and changes on chest x-ray) shortly following the first and only dose of Mab-1. The patient died approximately 5 weeks after entering the study, despite treatment with methylprednisolone and entecavir. Viral serology was negative; no autopsy was performed. The cause of death was attributed to acute hepatitis and confounded by rapid disease progression.

These results confirmed that the antibody disclosed herein (Mab-1) is tolerable; its toxicity profile demonstrates that adverse events (AEs) are generally low severity, manageable, and reversible.

In this early report more than half of patients remained on study (n=24/40); median treatment duration was 64 days (range: 1-471 days); rate of treatment discontinuation due to a treatment-related AE was low (n=1/40. Adverse events reported in this cohort were consistent with the overall safety profile observed in the study and were generally of low severity, manageable, and reversible. Most patients had underlying viral infection (HBV+, n=28; HCV+/HBV+, n=6; HCV+, n=2). Tumor reductions meeting the definition of “partial response” (i.e., defined as at least 30% reduction in tumor burden) were observed in 3 patients; and nine patients achieved stable disease, some of whom also had significant reductions in AFP.

Example 2 A Phase 2 Study of Mab-1 in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Study Design

A Phase 2 study is designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety/tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of Mab-1 in patients with previously treated HCC. Safety/tolerability assessments will include monitoring of adverse events (AEs), including immune-related AEs.

Study Population

Adult patients, aged ≥18 years, will be enrolled if:

-   -   (a) histologically confirmed HCC;     -   (b) with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage C, or BCLC         stage B not amenable to locoregional therapy or relapsed after         locoregional therapy, and not amenable to a curative treatment         approach;     -   (c) has received at least 1 line of systemic therapy for         unresectable HCC;     -   (d) has at least 1 measurable lesion as defined per RECIST v1.1;     -   (e) child-Pugh score A;     -   (f) Easter Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status         ≤1;     -   (g) adequate organ function.

Patients will be excluded if:

-   -   (a) known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, or mixed         cholangiocarcinoma and HCC histology;     -   (b) prior therapies targeting PD-1 or PD-L1;     -   (c) has known brain or leptomeningeal metastasis;     -   (d) tumor thrombus involving main trunk of portal vein or         inferior vena cava;     -   (e) loco-regional therapy to the liver within 4 weeks before         enrollment;     -   (f) medical history of interstitial lung disease, non-infectious         pneumonitis or uncontrolled systemic diseases, including         diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung diseases,         etc;     -   (g) have received, within 28 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is         shorter) of the first study drug administration: any         chemotherapy, immunotherapy (eg, interleukin, interferon,         thymoxin) or any investigational therapies; within 14 days of         the first study drug administration: sorafenib, regorafenib, or         any Chinese herbal medicine or Chinese patent medicines used to         control cancer;     -   (h) active autoimmune diseases or history of autoimmune diseases         that may relapse;     -   (i) with any condition requiring systemic treatment with either         corticosteroids (>10 mg daily of prednisone or equivalent) or         other immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before study         drug administration.

Treatment

Patients will be treated with Mab-1 200 mg IV Q3W.

Example 3 A Phase 3 Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Mab-1 Versus Sorafenib as First-Line Treatment in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Study Design

A phase 3 study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Mab-1 compared with sorafenib as a first-line treatment of advanced HCC (FIG. 8 ).

The primary object will be to compare overall survival (OS) between the two treatment groups. Objective response rate (ORR), as assessed by blinded independent review committee per RECIST v1.1, is a key secondary objective. Other secondary objectives will include a comparison of Mab-1 and sorafenib in terms of various efficacy assessments (progression free survival [PFS], duration of response [DoR], time to progression [TTP], disease control rate [DCR], and clinical benefit rate [CBR]), measures of health-related quality of life, and safety and tolerability.

Study Population

Adult patients, aged ≥18 years, will be enrolled if:

-   -   (a) unresectable, histologically confirmed HCC,     -   (b) an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score <1,         Child-Pugh A classification,     -   (c) Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage C disease or         BCLC, Stage B disease that is not amenable to, or has progressed         after, loco-regional therapy, and is not amenable to a curative         treatment approach,     -   (d) not received prior systemic therapy.

Patients will be excluded if:

-   -   (a) known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, or mixed         cholangiocarcinoma and HCC histology,     -   (b) tumor thrombus involving the main trunk of the portal vein         or inferior vena cava,     -   (c) received loco-regional therapy to the liver or any prior         immunotherapy within 28 days prior to randomization, or any         Chinese herbal medicine or patent medicine used to control         cancer within 14 days of randomization,     -   (d) grade 2 or higher hepatic encephalopathy (at screening or         prior history),     -   (e) pericardial effusion, uncontrollable pleural effusion, or         clinically significant ascites at screening.

Treatment

Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive Mab-1 200 mg IV Q3W or sorafenib 400 mg orally twice daily (BID), with randomization stratified by the presence of macrovascular invasion, the presence of extrahepatic spread, ECOG performance status, etiology, and geography. Treatment will be administered until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or treatment discontinuation for other reasons.

Study Assessments and Statistical Analysis

-   -   (a) Tumor response will be evaluated every 9 weeks during Year 1         and every 12 weeks from

Year 2 onwards, in accordance with RECIST v1.1.

-   -   (b) The primary efficacy endpoint of OS for Mab-1 versus         sorafenib will be assessed for non-inferiority.     -   (c) Secondary endpoints (such as ORR, PFS, DoR, and TTP assessed         by a blinded independent review committee) will be evaluated for         treatment comparisons     -   (d) All tests will be performed at one-sided α=0.025 (or 2-sided         α=0.05).     -   (e) Safety and tolerability (a secondary endpoint) will be         assessed by monitoring adverse events (AEs), including         immune-related AEs, and through physical examinations, vital         signs, and electrocardiograms.     -   (f) The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of         Cancer Quality of Life Cancer Questionnaire-Hepatocellular         Carcinoma 18 Questions (EORTC QLQ-HCC18) and European         Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of         Life Questionnaire-Core 30 will be used to assess health-related         quality of life between the two treatment arms using a mixed         model. The European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions will also be         summarized.

The foregoing examples and description of certain embodiments should be taken as illustrating, rather than as limiting the present invention as defined by the claims. As will be readily appreciated, numerous variations and combinations of the features set forth above can be utilized without departing from the present invention as set forth in the claims. All such variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. All references cited are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e., to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

The disclosures of all publications, patents, patent applications and published patent applications referred to herein by an identifying citation are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a human patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the human patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-PD-1 antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof, comprising heavy chain complementarity determining regions CDR-H1, CDR-H2, and CDR-H3 comprising SEQ ID NOs: 31, 32, and 33, respectively; light chain complementarity determining regions CDR-L1, CDR-L2, and CDR-L3 comprising SEQ ID NOs: 34, 35, and 36, respectively; and an IgG4 heavy chain constant domain comprising SEQ ID NO:88; and wherein the administering is performed parenterally at a dose of 0.5-10 mg/kg Q2W or Q3W.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody is an antibody which comprises a heavy chain variable region (Vh) comprising SEQ ID NO: 24 and a light chain variable region (Vk) comprising SEQ ID NO:
 26. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the HCC is an advanced HCC and/or a metastatic HCC.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the HCC is a virus infection related HCC.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the virus infection related HCC is HBV-infected HCC, HCV-infected HCC, or HBV/HCV co-infected HCC.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the HCC is an advanced HBV-infected HCC, metastatic HBV-infected HCC, or metastatic HCV-infected HCC.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody is administrated administered parenterally at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg Q2W, 5 mg/kg Q2W, 10 mg/kg Q2W, 2 mg/kg Q3W or 5 mg/kg Q3W.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein the virus infection related HCC is associated with a HBV viral load <200 IU/mL (˜1000 cps/mL).
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has active HBV infection, and wherein the patient is administered anti-HBV suppression for at least 3 months during treatment with the anti-PD-1 antibody and for 6 months after cessation of the anti-PD-1 antibody treatment.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody is administered parenterally at a dose of about 200 mg.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the administering parenterally is administering intravenously.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the administering parenterally is administering intravenously.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the administering parenterally is administering intravenously. 